Linfocintilografia de membros inferiores: estudo retrospectivo de 154 casos no período de março de 2009 a junho de 2010 / Lymphoscintigraphy of the lower limbs: a retrospective study of 154 cases from March 2009 to June 2010

Introdução: a linfocintilografia de membros inferiores (LMMII) é método eficaz para avaliar a drenagem linfática. Objetivo: apresentar 154 pacientes submetidos à LMMII entre março/2009 e junho/2010. Métodos: foram adquiridas imagens da pelve e MMII após administração intradérmica simultânea de 1,0 mCi de 99mTc-Dextran 500 em 0,1mL no espaço interdigital do primeiro e segundo pododáctilos bilateralmente. Resultados:foram examinadas 129 (83,77%) mulheres; média de 51,48 anos de idade; 32 (20,78%) na faixa etária entre 40 e 49 anos; 58 (37,66%) com índice de massa corporal entre 25 e 30 kg/m2; 92 (59,74%) com edema, linfedema ou inchaço como motivo do exame; 93 (60,39%) não submetidos a cirurgia ou procedimento vascular prévios; 108 (70,13%) sem processo inflamatório, erisipela ou trauma prévios; 103 (66,88%) com edema bilateral ao exame; 48 (31,17%) com piora do edema no período noturno; 77 (50%) com evolução há mais de um ano; 31 (20,13%) hipertensos. Achados cintilográficos: 149 (96,75%) com alguma alteração ao exame; 38 com atraso bilateral acentuado no tempo de trânsito linfático; 85 (55,19%) com cadeias linfonodais normofuncionantes; 62 comdrenagem do radiotraçador via safena parva bilateralmente; 84 (54,55%) sem vasos colaterais; 92 (59,74%) sem retenção linfática; 85 (55,19%) sem refluxo dérmico; 15 (9,74%) com linfonodos em região poplítea. Conclusões: a LMMII é método disponível para detecção do linfedema e alterações na drenagem linfática, sendo importante para triagem inicial investigativa, avaliação de edemas em fases iniciais e monitoramento deintervenções terapêuticas, clínicas ou cirúrgicas.

Introduction: Lymphoscintigraphy of the lower limbs (LLL) is an effective method to assess lymphatic function. Objective: To present the case of 154 patients undergoing LLL between March 2009 and June 2010. Methods: Images of the pelvis and lower limbs were acquired after simultaneous intradermal administration of 1.0 mCi of 99mTc-Dextran 500 in 0.1 mL in the interdigital space of the first and second toes, bilaterally. Results: 129 (83.77%) patients were female, mean age was 51.48 years, with 32 patients (20.78%) aged between 40 and 49 years. 58 patients (37.66%) had body mass index between 25 and 30 kg/m², 92 patients (59.74%) reported edema, lymphedema or swelling as the reason for examination. 93 patients (60.39%) without previous vascular surgery or procedure, 108 patients (70.13%) without previous inflammation, erysipelas or trauma. 103 patients (66.88%) presented with bilateral swelling upon examination, with 48 patients (31.17%) reporting edema that worsened in the evening. 77 patients (50%) with symptoms for over a year. 31 patients (20.13%) were hypertensive. Scintigraphic findings: 149 patients (96.75%) with some abnormality caracteupon examination, 38 with severe bilateral delay in lymphatic transit time, 85 (55.19%) with normofunctioning lymph nodes, 62 patients with bilateral radiotracer drainage via small saphenous veins, 84 patients (54.55%) without collateral vessels, 92 (59.74%) without lymphatic retention, 85 patients (55.19%) without dermal backflow. 15 patients (9.74%) showed lymph nodes in the popliteal region. Conclusions: Lower limb lymphoscintigraphy is available as a method to detect lymphedema and changes in lymphatic drainage, and is important for initial investigative screenings, early stage assessments of edema, and for monitoring therapeutic, clinical or surgical interventions.

A cintilografia óssea como exame complementar no diagnóstico da necrose avascular de sesamoide / The bone scintigraphy as a complementary exam in the diagnosis of the avascular necrosis of the sesamoid

OBJETIVO: Este estudo objetiva apresentar sete casos de necrose avascular de sesamoide e relatar o papel da cintilografia óssea no diagnóstico desses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Sete pacientes com suspeita clínica de necrose avascular de sesamoide submetidos a cintilografia óssea trifásica com 30mCi de MDP-99mTc. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes eram adultos jovens, do sexo feminino, com queixas de dor limitante em antepé, que faziam uso de calçados inadequados e/ou apresentavam relato de trauma associado ou não à fratura. Não houve predileção por um dos pés ou entre sesamoides tibial ou femoral. Dois (28,57%) pacientes apresentavam sesamoides tibiais bipartidos e um (14,29%) apresentava bipartição de sesamoides tibial e fibular. Em 100% dos pacientes a cintilografia óssea trifásica, associada a outros métodos propedêuticos, mostrou-se fundamental para o diagnóstico. A conduta inicial em todos os casos foi conservadora. Nos quatro casos (57,14%) em que não houve remissão dos sintomas, excisão cirúrgica do tecido sesamoideo necrotizado foi realizada. Em todos os pacientes a terapia utilizada se mostrou eficaz, havendo completa remissão dos sintomas sem complicações ou deformidades do antepé. CONCLUSÕES: A cintilografia óssea trifásica torna-se angular na propedêutica da necrose avascular do sesamoide, concorrendo com diagnóstico precoce acurado e permitindo ao especialista tratamento adequado.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to present seven cases of avascular necrosis of the sesamoid end report the role of bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of these patients. METHODS: Seven patients with clinical suspicion of avascular necrosis of the sesamoid underwent three-phase bone scintigraphy with 30 mCi of 99mTc-MDP. RESULTS: Most of the patients were young female adults with complaints of limiting pain in the forefoot, who were making use of inappropriate footwear and/or had a history of injury with or without fracture. There was no predominance of either of the feet or between the femoral or tibial sesamoid. Two patients (28.57%) had a bipartite tibial sesamoid and one (14.29%) had splitting of the tibial and fibular sesamoids. In 100% of the patients, three-phase bone scintigraphy, combined with other propaedeutic methods, proved to be crucial for the diagnosis. The initial procedure in all cases was conservative. In four cases (57.14%), there was no remission of symptoms, and surgical excision of the necrotized sesamoid tissue was performed. In all the patients, the therapy used was effective, with complete remission of symptoms, without complications or deformities of the forefoot. CONCLUSIONS: Three-phase bone scintigraphy becomes a cornerstone of the propaedeutics when avascular necrosis of the sesamoid is suspected, through contributing towards early and accurate diagnosis and enabling allowing appropriate specialized treatment.

THE BONE SCINTIGRAPHY AS A COMPLEMENTARY EXAM IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF THE SESAMOID.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to present seven cases of avascular necrosis of the sesamoid and report the role of bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of these patients. METHODS: Seven patients with clinical suspicion of avascular necrosis of the sesamoid underwent three-phase bone scintigraphy with 30 mCi of (99m)Tc-MDP. RESULTS: Most of the patients were young female adults with complaints of limiting pain in the forefoot, who were making use of inappropriate footwear and/or had a history of injury with or without fracture. There was no predominance of either of the feet or between the femoral or tibial sesamoid. Two patients (28.57%) had a bipartite tibial sesamoid and one (14.29%) had splitting of the tibial and fibular sesamoids. In 100% of the patients, three-phase bone scintigraphy, combined with other propaedeutic methods, proved to be crucial for the diagnosis. The initial procedure in all cases was conservative. In four cases (57.14%), there was no remission of symptoms, and surgical excision of the necrotized sesamoid tissue was performed. In all the patients, the therapy used was effective, with complete remission of symptoms, without complications or deformities of the forefoot. CONCLUSIONS: Three-phase bone scintigraphy becomes a cornerstone of the propaedeutics when avascular necrosis of the sesamoid is suspected, through contributing towards early and accurate diagnosis and enabling allowing appropriate specialized treatment.

Value of the radiological study of the thorax for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of the radiological study of the thorax for diagnosing left ventricular dilation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with Chagas' disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 166 consecutive patients with Chagas' disease and no other associated diseases. The patients underwent cardiac assessment with chest radiography and Doppler echocardiography. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of chest radiography were calculated to detect left ventricular dysfunction and the accuracy of the cardiothoracic ratio in the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction with the area below the ROC curve. The cardiothoracic ratio was correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction and the left ventricular diastolic diameter. RESULTS: The abnormal chest radiogram had a sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 80.5%, and positive and negative predictive values of 51.2% and 79.8%, respectively, in the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction. The cardiothoracic ratio showed a weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.23) and left ventricular diastolic diameter (r=0.30). The area calculated under the ROC curve was 0.734. CONCLUSION: The radiological study of the thorax is not an accurate indicator of left ventricular dysfunction; its use as a screening method to initially approach the patient with Chagas' disease should be reevaluated.

Doppler tissue imaging to assess systolic function in Chagas' disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) for evaluating the systolic function of chagasic patients with and without electrocardiographic abnormalities, in comparision with echocardiographic study. METHODS: We studied 77 patients divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 - control; group 2 - chagasic patients with normal electrocardiographic findings; and group 3 - chagasic patients with abnormal electrocardiographic findings. The following parameters were assessed: left ventricular dimensions and ejection fraction, left atrial dimensions and diastolic function on echocardiography. Systolic velocity and regional isovolumic contraction time (IVCTr) of the septal, anterior, lateral, posterior and inferior left ventricular walls were assessed on DTI. RESULTS: Left ventricular cavitary dimensions, ejection fraction and DTI systolic wave showed significant differences between groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 3, which were not found between groups 1 and 2. IVCTr allowed a statistically significant discrimination among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: DTI allowed discrimination among the different groups assessed, being superior to echocardiography in identifying early abnormalities of contractility, and, therefore, potentially useful for detecting incipient myocardial alterations in chagasic patients with normal electrocardiographic findings.

Valor do estudo radiológico do tórax no diagnóstico de disfunçäo ventricular esquerda na doença de Chagas / Value of the radiological study of the thorax for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of the radiological study of the thorax for diagnosing left ventricular dilation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with Chagas' disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 166 consecutive patients with Chagas' disease and no other associated diseases. The patients underwent cardiac assessment with chest radiography and Doppler echocardiography. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of chest radiography were calculated to detect left ventricular dysfunction and the accuracy of the cardiothoracic ratio in the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction with the area below the ROC curve. The cardiothoracic ratio was correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction and the left ventricular diastolic diameter. RESULTS: The abnormal chest radiogram had a sensitivity of 50 percent, specificity of 80.5 percent, and positive and negative predictive values of 51.2 percent and 79.8 percent, respectively, in the diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction. The cardiothoracic ratio showed a weak correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.23) and left ventricular diastolic diameter (r=0.30). The area calculated under the ROC curve was 0.734. CONCLUSION: The radiological study of the thorax is not an accurate indicator of left ventricular dysfunction; its use as a screening method to initially approach the patient with Chagas' disease should be reevaluated

Doppler tissular na avaliaçäo da funçäo sistólica na doença de chagas / Doppler tissue imaging to assess systolic function in Chagas' disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) for evaluating the systolic function of chagasic patients with and without electrocardiographic abnormalities, in comparision with echocardiographic study. METHODS: We studied 77 patients divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 - control; group 2 - chagasic patients with normal electrocardiographic findings; and group 3 - chagasic patients with abnormal electrocardiographic findings. The following parameters were assessed: left ventricular dimensions and ejection fraction, left atrial dimensions and diastolic function on echocardiography. Systolic velocity and regional isovolumic contraction time (IVCTr) of the septal, anterior, lateral, posterior and inferior left ventricular walls were assessed on DTI. RESULTS: Left ventricular cavitary dimensions, ejection fraction and DTI systolic wave showed significant differences between groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 3, which were not found between groups 1 and 2. IVCTr allowed a statistically significant discrimination among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: DTI allowed discrimination among the different groups assessed, being superior to echocardiography in identifying early abnormalities of contractility, and, therefore, potentially useful for detecting incipient myocardial alterations in chagasic patients with normal electrocardiographic findings

Detection of early right ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease using Doppler tissue imaging.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of the right ventricle (RV) in Chagas' disease is frequent. Although echocardiography plays an important role in noninvasive assessment of cardiac function, evaluation of RV is challenging because of the anatomic and functional complexity of this chamber. METHODS: To study early functional abnormalities in the RV, we selected 18 patients with Chagas' disease, no other disease, and a normal echocardiogram; and 12 normal individuals as a control group. All participants were submitted to Doppler tissue imaging and the parameters of systolic (systolic wave and regional isovolumic contraction time) and diastolic (early and late expansion waves) function were analyzed at the level of the interventricular septum and free wall of the RV. RESULTS: Regional isovolumic contraction time values showed a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups both in the RV free (P =.0003) and septal (P =.003) walls. With respect to diastolic function, we observed a significant difference between groups involving the early expansion wave (P =.014) and e/a ratio (P =.004) of the RV free wall. CONCLUSION: Doppler tissue imaging proved to be useful in early detection of RV dysfunction in Chagas' disease, with potential use in risk stratification of these patients.

Brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease.

Left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease is common but can be difficult to detect. We investigated whether measurement of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could identify patients with left ventricular dysfunction who need further investigation or treatment. Among patients with an abnormal electrocardiogram or chest radiograph, a BNP concentration of 60.7 pmol/L or higher has a sensitivity and positive predictive value of 80%, and specificity and negative predictive value of 97%. Measurement of plasma BNP concentration could be a useful method to screen patients with Chagas' disease.

Enalapril no tratamento da hipertensäo leve a moderada / Enalapril in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension

O presente é um estudo aberto, consecutivo, näo comparativo, abrangendo 47 pacientes portadores de hipertensäo arterial leve a moderada (pressäo arterial diastólica supina >= 90 mmHg e <= 114 mmHg), que utilizaram 20 a 40 mg de maleato de enalapril em dose única diária por seis semanas. Após duas semanas sem tratamento medicamentoso, os pacientes foram observados por seis semanas de tratamento ativo, sendo avaliados quanto à pressäo arterial (PA), freqüência cardíaca (FC), peso corpóreo (PC), exames hematológicos, bioquímicos, análise de urina e ecocardiogramas, além de eventual presença de reaçöes adversas. Houve normalizaçäo da PA (diastólica < 90 mmHg) em 81,6% dos pacientes; a PA sistólica média variando de 160,30 + ou - 11,30 para 128,30 + ou - 8,29 (p < 0,01) e PA diastólica média de 108,80 + ou - 5,40 para 87,73 + ou - 5,28 (p < 0,01). A dose média de maleato de enalapril utilizada para normalizaçäo da PA foi de 28 mg/dia. Os exames subsidiários realizados no final do estudo näo mostraram alteraçöes significativas em relaçäo aos iniciais. Efeitos colaterais foram observados em cinco pacientes; três casos referiram epigastralgia; um apresentou edema bimaleolar e um, referiu adinamia, nenhum necessitando interrupçäo do tratamento. Concluiu-se que o enalapril em dose única diária de 20 a 40 mg é medicaçäo eficaz, bem tolerada, com baixa incidência de efeitos colaterais